Monday, January 7, 2013

Our Get Healthy Challenge: Week 13

Welcome to Week 13 of Our Get Healthy Challenge! If you're just joining us, here is what you missed so far - so you can get all caught up. This series is running for the next six months with pro nutritionists, The GetReal Gurls. They are helping us make small changes every week that build upon each weekly task. Our challenge this week?We are back (hello 2013!), with just three months of Get Healthy challenges left! To kick off the second half, we are challenging you to start meal planning. Planning meals is one of the best things you can do to ensure you stick to a healthy diet. It’s also a great way to get organized in the New Year! If your meals and snacks are planned in advance, it will help you:-Eat out less-Make healthier choices-Prevent unstructured snacking-Promote balanced meals-Feel less stressed on busy days…because you have a plan!-Add variety to your meals-Try new recipes-Save money (and who doesn’t want to save money, especially this time of year!)

Photo Credit: Arab Times

It’s like keeping a food diary, but instead of being retroactive and recording the not-so-good stuff you already ate that you no longer have control over, you’re taking a PROACTIVE approach to ensure you actually stick to your goals. Makes sense, right? And guess what – once you’ve made 4 weeks of meal plans, just rotate! Now THAT was easy. To get started use these menu planning forms, or if you don’t feel creative enough to make up your own – get your personalized menu (with recipes!) from EatRight OntarioHere is your Do it! Post it! for the week:Do it! Plan a full day’s worth of meals AND snacks for at least 4 days this week. Post it! Tell us how it went, if you found it helpful and what your go to meals are.-A. & M., GetRealGurls Nutrition, www.getrealgurlsnutrition.comPs – It wouldn’t hurt to revisit the first challenge – “the clean up!” To kick off a healthy start to a new year, it’s important to make your environment as healthy as possible – that means getting rid of all the holiday treats!